Schooling for children living with human immunodeficiency virus in a community in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: Perceptions of educators and healthcare workers

Abstract

Background Children living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are faced with challenges, such as social and contextual barriers in society, resulting from their disabilities. Schooling and education, which are crucial for children’s future livelihoods, are areas in which children living with HIV often experience exclusion within South African communities. Educators and healthcare professionals, through collaborative efforts, could influence schooling by improving access and care for children living with HIV. Objectives To explore the perceptions of educators and healthcare workers on schooling for children living with HIV in a semi-rural community in South Africa. Methods Semi-structured interviews were held, with eight healthcare workers and eight educators, adopting an explorative qualitative approach. Data from the interviews were transcribed and analysed using content analysis. Results Four overarching themes were identified: the influence of living with HIV on school readiness and progression; stakeholder support practices to enhance bonding and bridging; obstacles to support; and future directives to foster success at school for children living with HIV. Conclusion Educators and healthcare workers felt that social determinants, including poverty and stigma, as well as comorbidities of the virus, influenced the school readiness of children living with HIV. Bonding with children and partnering with caregivers was seen as crucial for fostering successful schooling. Clinical implications Additionally, interdisciplinary collaboration between healthcare workers and educators was seen as important for a holistic approach to caring for children living with HIV. Early identification of disabilities was also believed to be important in addressing the social barriers hindering schooling.

Exploring how outreach team leaders perceive community health workers’ experiences of providing HIV services in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

“…Regarding community dynamics in KZN, CHWs' visits are not appointment-based so there remains a likelihood of not finding the house occupants during home visits. This is detrimental when CHWs' home visits have shown that they escalate HIV prevention and early detection of serious conditions that require referral, not only in South Africa but worldwide (Laurenzi et al, 2021;Loeliger et al, 2016a;Peretz et al, 2020) The HIV stigma is a key barrier to the provision of HIV services by the CHWs as found in other studies conducted in KZN (Iwuji et al, 2020;Maddocks et., 2020). Similarly, our study found that HIV stigma, which HIV-positive individuals have (self-stigma) or their families have hindered the provision of HIV services.…”

How do caregivers of children living with HIV/AIDS cope, and where do they get support?: A qualitative study in Ghana

“…Amidst this daunting task, caregivers resolve to cope with the stress of the process through several behaviours and thought processes. Even though there exists positive coping among caregivers of CLWHA, 25,26 the majority of them cope negatively with the caregiving process and burden as reported elsewhere 24,27,28 …”

“…Even though there exists positive coping among caregivers of CLWHA, 25,26 the majority of them cope negatively with the caregiving process and burden as reported elsewhere. 24,27,28 These negative copings include crying, guilt and fear, among others. Evidence suggests female caregivers have poor coping mechanisms than men.…”